Population 825 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Sterling
Household size in West Sterling
| Period | West Sterling | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.85 | 2.59 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.99 | 2.62 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.96 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.56 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.35 | −0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in West Sterling run a little small, averaging 2.50 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The Worcester area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.85, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in West Sterling
| Period | West Sterling | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5 | 39.1 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.8 | 39.8 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.8 | 40.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.7 | 41.1 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.2 | +2.0 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
West Sterling skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in West Sterling
| Period | West Sterling | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 10.8% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 11.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.4% of households in West Sterling, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in West Sterling
Renters in West Sterling
| Period | West Sterling | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 32.4% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 34.8% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 34.9% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 34.2% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
West Sterling is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 10.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 33.6% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in West Sterling
| Period | West Sterling | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.4% | 9.2% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 8.5% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 6.8% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.1% of homes in West Sterling are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in West Sterling
| Period | West Sterling | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1961 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1962 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1964 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1965 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | −4 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in West Sterling was built around 1977, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in the Worcester area overall, where the median home dates to 1965.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in West Sterling
| Period | West Sterling | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,041 | $930 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,092 | $1,008 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,197 | $1,155 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,725 | $1,549 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$685 | +$619 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in West Sterling costs $1,725 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 43.6% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in West Sterling
Bachelor's degrees in West Sterling
| Period | West Sterling | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 66.2% | 33.1% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 51.7% | 34.5% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 54.9% | 36.5% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 55.3% | 39.8% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | −10.9 pts | +6.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
West Sterling is highly educated: more than half of adults 25 and older (55.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in West Sterling
| Period | West Sterling | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.8% | 88.4% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.8% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.2% | 90.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.4% | 90.9% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +2.5 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in West Sterling: 95.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in West Sterling
| Period | West Sterling | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 7.7% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 8.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.6% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.0% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West Sterling has been low: just 2.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
West Sterling compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Sterling | 2.50 | 48.7 | 5.4% | 10.5% | 5.1% | 1977 | $1,725 | 55.3% | 95.4% | 2.0% |
| Princeton | 2.64 | 46.2 | 5.3% | 5.6% | 8.4% | 1975 | $908 | 59.3% | 99.4% | 0.4% |
| Sterling | 2.50 | 49.1 | 9.1% | 13.5% | 1.4% | 1981 | $1,750 | 48.3% | 92.6% | 3.9% |
| Leino Park | 2.44 | 59.9 | 8.5% | 17.4% | 7.3% | 1981 | $2,139 | 56.1% | 97.9% | 1.3% |
| Leominster | 2.43 | 44.3 | 9.3% | 37.8% | 5.8% | 1969 | $1,311 | 33.9% | 90.1% | 6.5% |
| Jefferson | 2.70 | 40.9 | 5.7% | 17.6% | 4.4% | 1977 | $1,570 | 62.6% | 97.9% | 5.3% |
| Ponakin Mill | 2.32 | 39.5 | 1.0% | 14.7% | 2.0% | 1978 | $2,344 | 47.0% | 88.7% | 1.7% |
| Lancaster | 2.60 | 45.4 | 5.8% | 14.8% | 3.3% | 1979 | $2,205 | 51.4% | 97.0% | 8.7% |
| West Boylston | 2.29 | 46.3 | 7.0% | 22.1% | 5.5% | 1968 | $1,210 | 43.2% | 92.8% | 4.5% |
| Westminster | 2.61 | 45.7 | 5.8% | 12.3% | 6.9% | 1978 | $1,934 | 48.8% | 95.1% | 3.1% |
| Clinton | 2.33 | 40.9 | 9.0% | 45.2% | 4.2% | 1957 | $1,635 | 36.5% | 91.6% | 5.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Spraggs, PA · Herlong, CA · Hickory Valley, TN · Interlaken, NJ · Kibler, AR · Schram City, IL · Shelbyville, MO · Singers Glen, VA · Snowflake, WV · South Levant, ME
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up West Sterling. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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